Fire protection apparatus for a building

ABSTRACT

Fire-resistant apparatus for covering and enclosing a building for protecting it from airborne firebrands, or the like, produced by a high-velocity fire storm. The enclosing apparatus includes flexible, thin-sheet cover means of fire-resistant or fireretardant material which is usually in the form of several panel portions adapted to be edge-joined by junction means to provide a composite cover of a desired size and shape for protecting a particular building and which is then pulled into place covering the building with edges of the cover means being firmly fastened together and effectively sealed substantially completely around the building to adjacent ground surface portions by edgefastening means so that the high-velocity winds produced by a fire storm will be substantially excluded and so that the fireretardant character of the cover means will prevent the building from catching fire as a result of burning embers or firebrands being blown by the approaching fire storm onto the building (of course, with the protective fire-retardant cover interposed therebetween). The multi-panel cover means and the edge-fastening means and auxiliary fastening strap means provided for attachment thereof are so constructed as to be capable of being very quickly and relatively easily assembled and mounted in protective relationship over a building by a small crew of men when the building is threatened by an approaching fire storm.

United States Patent [1 1 Ballinger [54] FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS FOR ABUILDING [76] Inventor: Virgil R. Ballinger, PO. Box 18948 CimmaronStation, Los Angeles, Calif. 90018 [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 [21] Appl.No.2 174,026

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,749 9/1926 Barnes ..52/4 2,351,297 6/1944Schwab 2,455,237 11/1948 Davis 3,548,904 3/1969 Mackell 3,659,641 5/1972Marino ..150/52 R Primary ExaminerJ0hn E. Murtagh [57] ABSTRACTFire-resistant apparatus for covering and enclosing a [4 1 Feb. 13,1973

building for protecting it from airborne firebrands, or the like,produced by a high-velocity fire storm. The enclosing apparatus includesflexible, thin-sheet cover means of fire-resistant or fire-retardantmaterial which is usually in the form of several panel portions adaptedto be edge-joined by junction means to provide a composite cover of adesired size and shape for protecting a particular building and which isthen pulled into place covering the building with edges of the covermeans being firmly fastened together and effectively sealedsubstantially completely around the building to adjacent ground surfaceportions by edge-fastening means so that the high-velocity windsproduced by a fire storm will be substantially excluded and so that thefire-retardant character of the cover means will prevent the buildingfrom catching fire as a result of burning embers or firebrands beingblown by the approaching fire storm onto the building (of course, withthe protective fire-retardant cover interposed therebetween). Themulti-panel cover means and the edge-fastening means and auxiliaryfastening strap means provided for attachment thereof are so constructedas to be capable of being very quickly and relatively easily assembledand mounted in protective relationship over a building by a small crewof men when the building is threatened by an approaching fire storm.

16 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTED'FEB 13 1915 3.715843 SHEET 3 OF 5Fl G 7 DIRECTION OF F125 m m/me V/Q/L 2 544006512 PATENTEDFEB 1 3 19153,715,843

SHEEI s or 5 YE-LLOW Fl 6 18 13 70E.

FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS FOR A BUILDING SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION When amajor fire occurs, particularly in hilly or mountainous terrain whichhas brush and trees growing on portions thereof and which also hasresidential buildings in at least certain portions of the region,certain major problems in connection with controlling the rapidspreading of the fire are frequently encountered. Certain of these willbe briefly detailed hereinafter.

Among the difficulties likely to be encountered under the circumstancesoutlined above is the fact that in such hilly terrain, very ofteninadequate water pressure is provided by the city, county, or othergovernment agency in charge of the water system to allow much control ofa major fire through the use of water particularly by each individualhomeowner who may be trying to protect his property from a rapidlyapproaching fire which may be of the type which move rapidly andgenerates substantial winds of its own and frequently will cause embersof the burning fire in one region to be airborne for long distances andto then be deposited on other combustible material and perhaps on theroofs of other homes. This type of fire is often called a fire storm andis extremely difficult to control because of the above-describedself-spreading or selfdisseminating nature of such a fire storm, whichmay lead to other fire storms starting at a number of differentlocations substantial distances away from the main or initial firestorm. One such fire was one which occurred in the 1960s in the suburbof Los Angeles known as Bel Air, where the fire spread to multiplelocations by jumping large distances from one fire location to anotheras a consequence of the airborne travel of burning embers in the mannerreferred to above. In the past, efforts to prevent homes or otherlow-rise buildings, in regions adjacent to such a fire storm, fromcatching fire have consisted mainly of wetting down the entire roof ofthe home (which is frequently the most likely initial ignition region)with a garden hose, or the like, and also wetting down the sides of thehome nearest to the fire storm. If adequate water pressure is available,this procedure is efficacious to a certain degree, but generally, undersuch fire storm conditions as outlined above, the water pressure will befound to be inadequate for the protective operation just described forany of several reasons. A first and major reason is the fact that manyother homeowners will be attempting to do the same thing and, thus, thetemporarily excessivedemand for water will reduce the available waterpressure to such low levels as to make such a wetting-down operationvery difficult or virtually impossible to accomplish. A second majorreason for the difficulty in properly using the above-mentioned priorart protective procedure is the fact that in mountainous or hillyterrain, the water-pressure situation is frequently marginal even whenno tire is present and such a complete roof-wetting-down operation mightbe somewhat difficult to achieve even under normal, nonfire conditionsand if the demand for water increases even slightly, the water pressuredrops to a very low level and the water supply becomes totallyinadequate for the type of wetting-down, fire protection operationdescribed above.

The present invention is intended to solve the abovementioned problem ina quite-different way. The method of the present invention is to send acrew in a truck, or the like, to quickly assemble and mount a completehome-enclosing fire-retardant cover over the residential building to beprotected and to quickly, firmly fasten down to adjacent ground surfacesall edges of the thin-sheet, fire-retardant, protective cover 0 means ina manner which will resist the action of highvelocity winds and willeffectively prevent airborne burning embers or firebrands which mightthen strike the cover means enclosing the house and covering the roofthereof, from setting fire to the house. In this connection, it shouldbe noted that such a fire-retardant cover can resist such burning embersor firebrands very much better than the material of which manyresidential structures are built particularly the roofing materialthereof. This is so because a great many residential structures havinghighly inflammable roofs, such as those made of wooden shingles, woodenshakes, and various other highly inflammable materials, will catch firevery quickly in a fire storm when a burning firebrand or ember lands onsuch a highly inflammable roof. The above statements are also truealthough sometimes to a lesser degree with respect to the siding andwall structure material of such a residential building which isfrequently also very inflammable.

The cover means may be made of fabric, or fabriclike material, which, incertain forms, may itself be non-combustible, such as by being made ofglass fibers, or the like, and may be impregnated or coated withchemicals of a fire-retardant nature such as, for example, certainfire-retardant materials which expand greatly in the presence of heatand, thus, produce what might be called a greatly enlarged or thickenedlayer of foam-like material with a very high percentage of hollow cellsor voids which act as effective thermal insulators. This type offire-retardant material is similar to that employed at airports byairport fire control crews for quickly smothering and choking out theflame of a burning airplane. Also, various other fire-retardantchemicals which release gasses, or the like, which inhibit combustion,may be employed for such coating or impregnating material. Suchthermally responsive, volume-increasing, fire protection agents havealso been employed in special-purpose fire protection coatings andpaints and essentially the same theory of operation exists with respectto the protective heat shield construction employed on space vehicles toprevent them from burning up on re-entry into the earths atmosphere, andany such fire protection agent having any of the characteristicsoutlined above may be employed in association with the thin-sheetprotective cover means for imparting positive fire-retardant orfire-inhibiting characteristics of variousdifferent desired typesthereto.

Generally speaking, the fire-resistant apparatus of the presentinvention comprises flexible, thin-sheet cover meansof fire-resistant orfire-retardant or positive fire-inhibiting material having fasten-downedge portions and intervening or intermediate area-covering panelportions adapted to be placed over and in enclosing relationship withrespect to a building (usually a residential building) which is to beprotected from a highvelocity fire. The fasten-down edge portions areeffectively provided with edge-fastening means engageable with respectto adjacent ground surface portions for firmly and positively fasteningdown and substantially sealing the edge portion of the cover means withrespect to the adjacent ground surface areas substantially completelyaround the building which is to be protected. In a preferred form, theedge-fastening means may comprise a plurality of longitudinal fasteningbars and cooperating bar-to-ground fastening means having upper,downwardly facing, transversely extending, bar-engaging contact shouldermeans adapted to be forced against corresponding receiving surfaceportions of corresponding parts of said fastening bars and also havingsubstantially downwardly directed ground-penetrating (and usuallypointed) stake means adapted to be driven into ground surface areas atappropriate locations spaced around a building which is to be protectedso that the fastening bars will appropriately firmly hold downcorresponding portions of the edges of the cover means substantiallycompletely around the building.

In a preferred form, the protective cover is provided with a pluralityof reinforcing and strengthening straps which may be jointed thereto inany suitable manner and may be spaced and directed in any desiredpattern or manner, although in one particular preferred form, thereinforcing and strengthening straps are rectangularly arranged in agrid-like pattern with certain of the reinforcing straps crossing eachother at predetermined, multiple, cross-over locations. The reinforcingstraps are preferably provided with attachment means adapted to befastened to corresponding ends of auxiliary fastening strap means havingopposite ends adapted to be fastened to said edge-fastening means sothat the entire protective cover can be firmly held down with respect tothe ground surface around the building which is covered by and protectedby the protective cover.

In a preferred form of the invention, the protective cover meanscomprises a plurality of panel portions, each provided with controllableengageable mating edge junction means for firmly fastening. togetheradjacent edge portions of an assembly of such panel portions whereby tocause them to form a complete composite protective cover of a desiredsize and shape suitable for substantially completely enclosing andprotecting a residential building lying within a predetermined range ofsizes and shapes. 7

In a preferred form, the apparatus includes a plurality of edge junctionbridging and reinforcing means preferably carried by opposed aligned endportions of the reinforcing strap means so that when the multiple panelportions of the protective cover means have their edge junction meansjoined together, unnecessary stress will be removed therefrom by theeffective overriding bridging relationship of the strong edge junctionbridging and reinforcing means.

A preferred form of the invention may also include edge junction codingand identification means carried by the panel portions in identifyingassociation with the mating parts of the edge junction means carriedthereby so as to provide quick identification thereof so that inassembling the multiple panels of the complete cover means, the properedges can be placed adjacent to each other to allow for the necessarymating engagement of the separate parts of the edge junction meanscarried by said adjacent edges.

A preferred form of the invention may also include panel coding andidentification means carried by each panel portion and corresponding toits size and/or shape (usually both its size and shape) whereby toprovide quick identification of each particular type, size, and shape ofpanel during the initial assembly and edge-joining of same in protectiverelationship over a residential building which is to be protected froman approaching fire storm.

The apparatus may also include one or more special panel portions of theprotective cover having an apertured and usually partially slottedportion provided with multiple edge junction means for effectivelyjoining any desired length parts of the slotted portion at virtually anylocations therealong so as to permit this particular panel portion to beused over a portion of a residential buildings roof which has aprojecting structure, such as the electrical input fitting, or the like,from an adjacent power line, with said projecting structure extendingthrough any part of said slotted or apertured part of the panel, afterwhich the multiple edge junction means can be operated so as to joinsubstantially all remaining edges of the slotted portion together; saidpanel having fastening straps and/or fastening hook means for attachingsame to other panel portions in said desired relationship.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the above points in mind, it is an objectof the present invention to provide a fire-resistant, fire-retardant orpositive fire-inhibiting apparatus for covering a building (usually aresidential building) for protecting it from airborne burning embers,firebrands, hot ashes, or the like, usually produced as a consequence ofa nearby high-velocity fire storm.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to herein generically and/or specifically andwhich may include any or all of the features referred to herein, eitherindividually or in combination, and which is of relatively simple,inexpensive, easy-to-manufacture, easy-to-assemble, and easy-to-mountconstruction suitable for ready mass manufacture and distribution of theapparatus in any of its several different forms at relatively low costper unit, both as to initial capital cost (including production set-upcosts, etc.) and as to the subsequent per-unit manufacturing cost,whereby to be conducive to widespread production, distribution, and useof the invention for the purposes outlined herein or for anysubstantially equivalent or similar purposes.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which followshereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but notspecifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will beapparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of thedetailed description which follows.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, oneexemplary embodiment of the invention (showing it in several alternativeforms of use, however) is illustrated in the hereinbelowdescribedfigures of the accompanying drawings and is described in detailhereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a greatly reduced-size perspective view of one exemplary formof the present invention shown in fully mounted, covering, enclosing,and protecting relationship with respect to a residential building (ahome) and with the edges of the protective cover firmly fastened downwith respect to adjacent ground surface areas.

FIG. 2 is a view generally similar to FIG. 1, but illustrates theprotective cover means assembled in a somewhat different relationshipfrom that shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates it also as being in fullymounted, protective relationship with respect to a differently shapedresidential building from that illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially brokenaway, partiallysectional view of a representative one of the plurality of edgeengagement means firmly fastening down the edge of the protective coverin both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken substantiallyalong the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly brokenaway, perspective viewof that portion of the crossed reinforcing straps and thecorrespondingholddown attachment means shown at the location enclosed in the smallcircle designated by the arrow and the number 5 of FIG. 1 and is to beconsidered as representative of the many such structures of the completeapparatus.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view substantially as seen in topplan view, of a representative portion of the edge junction meansjoining the edges of the plurality of panels of which the completeprotective cover is formed and of a corresponding representative one ofthe plurality of edge junction bridging and reinforcing means whichtakes the stress off of the edge junction means. The particular portionof the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 may be considered to be that portion ofFIG. 1 enclosed within the small circle designated by the arrow and thenumber 6 of FIG. 1 although it should be clearly understood that in FIG.6 the edge junction means, which is shown therein as comprising amechanical fastener of the so-called zipper" type, is partially open atthe bottom of FIG. 6 merely for the purposes of providing a more fulland complete disclosure-in FIG. 6. However, at the location of FIG. 6 asshown in FIG. 1, said edge junction means is actually fully closed andthe slider element of the mechanical fastener would be downwardlydisplaced to the extreme lower end of the edge junction means ratherthan being in the location indicated in FIG. 6. This is done formaximizing the extent of disclosure provided by this figure.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a somewhat diagrammatic and schematicnature illustrating a representative and, in this case, substantiallysquare building protected by the protective cover means of the presentinvention and shows that the edge engagement means is preferablyincreased in number along the sides of the residential building adjacentto an approaching fire storm since this is the area where the greatesttendency for the high-velocity winds produced by such a fire storm toget under the edge of the protective cover and to possible strip it awayfrom the residential building, will exist. This tendency is minimized byusing more of the edge engagement means along said adjacent sides of theresidential building.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially brokenaway,cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in thedirection indicated by the arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by thearrows 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the plane an in the direction indicated by thearrows 10-10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken-away,cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in thedirection indicated by the arrows 11-11 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken-away,cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in thedirection indicated by the arrows 12l2 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by thearrows 1313 of FIG. 3 and illustrates one exemplary form which thefire-retardant thin-sheet cover may take.

FIG. 13A is a view similar to FIG. 13 but illustrates the representativesample of the fire-retardant protective cover after it has beensubjected to heat and has undergone a substantial degree of exfoliationand expansion on the heated surface, such as to cause the production ofa greatly thickened protective coating of material characterized byextremely low thermal conductivity, by reason of the high percentage ofhollow cells and voids formed by the fire-retardant material as aconsequence of the heating of same.

FIG. 13B is a view generally similar to FIG. 13, but illustrates therepresentative piece of the fire-retardant protective cover in aslightly modified form where the fire-retardant material is notsubstantially evenly disseminated throughout the matrix material, butinstead is concentrated along one surface of the protective cover sheetand preferably on the outside thereof which will be most likely to besubjected to great heat in a fire storm.

FIG. 13C is a view similar in most respects to FIG. 13A but illustratingthe modified form of the protective cover sheet material of FIG. 13Bafter it has been subjected to great heat and has undergone exteriorexfoliation and expansion, primarily on the outer surface thereof so asto form a number of hollow cells and voids which greatly enhance thethermal insulation characteristic of the complete protective cover.

FIG. 13D is a fragmentary, partially broken-away view illustrating afurther modification of a representative piece of the protective coverwherein it is of a fabric-like form made up of a plurality of strands ofa non-combustible material (such as glass fiber strands, for example,although not specifically so limited) pro vided with the fire-retardantmaterial and/or any necessary carrying matrix material either in amanner impregnating the non-combustible fabric or in a layer applied andcoated on the surface of the fabric- (usually on the outer surfacethereof).

FIG. 13B is a view illustrating the modified form of protective covermaterial shown in FIG. 13D after it has been subjected to great heatduring a fire storm which, consequently, has caused the fire-retardantmaterial and carrying matrix material to be effectively exfoliated andexpanded so as to form a thickened thermal insulating blanket of greatfire-protecting efficiency.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken-away view similarin many respects to FIGS. 10 and 11 but illustrating the use of theedge-fastening means for fastening an edge of the protective cover to anuneven ground surface.

FIG. 15 is a greatly reduced-size perspective view illustrating oneexemplary and highly advantageous storage unit for storing in a veryconvenient, accessible, small-space-volume configuration, all of theessential elements of the apparatus in a manner which allows same to behandled by a fork lift, a helicopter, or conventional truck for speed ofassembling and mounting of the protective cover means over a residentialstructure which is to be protected.

FIG. 16 is a greatly reduced-size, diagrammatic, top plan viewillustrating certain representative different sizes and shapes of themultiple panel portions which may be assembled to form the completeprotective thin-sheet cover. In this particular somewhat diagrammaticillustration, one large square panel portion is shown, four rectangularpanel portions are shown, and four small square panel portions areshown. However, the particular assembly or lay-out of panel portionsshown in FIG. 16 has been chosen merely because it shows all of thedifferent types of panel portions and, when arranged as illustrated,forms a square, overall panel configuration. It should be clearly notedthat the invention is not specifically limited to a composite panelincluding the particular numbers and types of panel portions shown inFIG. 16, which are merely representative. Also, it should be noted thatthe panel portions shown in FIG. 16 are in slightly separatedrelationship, although normally adjacent panel portions are joinedtogether by the edge junction means, which is shown in FIG. 17 as takingthe form of mechanical fastener means of the type commonly known as"zipper fastener means. This separation of the panel portions in FIG. 16is provided for reasons of drawing clarity and to clearly illustrate theseparate status and individuality of each panel portion. However, itshould be understood that, in actuality, when forming composite panelmeans, all of the adjacent edge portions will be joined together, ineach case, by a zipper-type edge junction means such as is illustratedin FIG. 17.

Furthermore, in this view the arrangement of the mating portions of eachedge junction means and the direction of engaging or edge-joiningmovement of the fastener element thereof is indicated by the letters F"and M and the directional arrows for each of the individual panelportions. Additionally, the panel coding and identification means whichidentifies the type and size of panel so that no time will be wastedwhen assembling same into a composite cover for protecting a residentialbuilding from an approaching fire, is clearly shown in this view.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken-away. view of thatrepresentative edge-joint portion of a composite panel such as would befound within the circle and arrow indicated by the number l7 in FIG. 16.However, it should be clearly noted that the particular zipper-typemechanical fastener means, comprising one representative form of edgejunction means, which is shown in FIG. 17 in actuality would be fullyengaged and edge-joined rather than partly edgejoined and partly not yetedge-joined, as shown in FIG. 17, and additionally the fastener orslider element would not be at the location shown in FIG. 17, but wouldbe at the extreme lower end of the joined edges and, thus, completelyout of view in FIG. 17. FIG. 17 has been purposely modified in thisrespect so as to show it in the act of having the edges joined togetherby the edge junction means for purposes of providing a better disclosurein a single figure than would otherwise be the case. This view alsoshows the edge junction coding and identification means in onerepresentative form thereof for use in facilitating the placing ofjoinable edges adjacent to each other very quickly when assembling thevarious panel portions into a complete composite cover for rapidlyprotecting a residential building from an approaching fire storm.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of a protectivecover sheet positioned on a roof of a building structure with a specialpanel portion attached in such a way as to permit the passage throughthe composite protective cover of a projecting structure carried by theroof structure of the building such as an electrical input or electricalweatherhead, or the like, which is usually provided adjacent to the edgeof a roof of a home and which is connected to an adjacent or nearbyelectric power line for suppiying the home with electric power.

Generally speaking, the apparatus of the present invention comprises afire-resistant cover thin-sheet material adapted to be placed over abuilding structure which is to be protected from airborne burningembers, firebrands, and the like, and further includes multipleedgefastening means for positively and firmly fastening down edges of thecover to ground surface portions around the base of the buildingstructure which is to be protected in a manner which will prevent thehighvelocity winds which accompany a fire storm from getting under theedge of the cover and ripping it loose from its protective relationshipover the residential building. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, abuilding of a certain representative and non-specifically limiting sizeand shape is shown within such a protective cover, which is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 20 and which is made up of fourpanel portions 22, only two of which can be seen on the near side of thebuilding (with the other two being similarly disposed on the oppositeside of the building), with all of the four panel portions 22 beingjoined together along adjacent edges thereof by edge junctionmeans,-indicated generally at 24, and with three of the four sets ofsuch edge junction means being visible in FIG. 1 on the near side of theresidential building and along the front and rear ridge portions of thebuilding. It should of course be understood that a fourth part of saidedge junction means extends down the rear side of the residentialbuilding in a manner similar to that bisecting the roof and near side ofthe building in FIG. 1.

All of the outer edges of the composite protective cover 20 formed ofthe four panel portions 24 comprise what might be termed fasten-downedge portions which are positively firmly fastened down andsubstantially sealed to underlying portions of a ground surface,indicated generally at 26, by multiple-element edge fastening means,indicated generally by the reference numeral 28, thus providing a firmlyfastened-down, enclosing, protective cover over the entire building sothat airborne firebrands or burning embers which might otherwise land ona highly combustible roof of the building will now land on theprotective cover 20, which is made of a fire-resistant, fire-retardant,or, in some cases, a positive fire-inhibiting material so that saidfirebrands or burning embers will not set fire to the protectedresidential building and will burn themselves out while lying on thefire-retardant cover 20.

At this point, a word about the nature of the fire-retardant materialforming the cover 20 appears to be in order, and reference is made toFIG. 13 showing an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of oneform thereof wherein it is made of a fire-retardant or noncombustionsupporting matrix material 30 which, in a preferred form, may havedisseminated therethrough fire-inhibiting material indicated at 32 andwhich may be in the form of multiple particles or, in any other desiredform, disseminated throughout or mixed in the matrix material 30 or, ifdesired, merely coating the exterior thereof and being of a nature suchas to release gasses or vapors which inhibit combustion or which causemajor exfoliation and expansion whereby to produce a vastly greatervolume of material in response to the application of heat, with saidmaterial being of what might be termed a foam type having a highpercentage of hollow cells or voids dispersed therethrough and, thus,providing extremely efficient thermal insulation characteristics inaddition to being non-inflammable itself. The major thermal insulationcharacteristic just mentioned is extremely important because, even ifthe protective cover 20 is itself non-inflammable, the underlying roofsurface of a residential building, if of highly inflammable materialitself, such as wooden shingles, wooden shakes, or the like, may becomeheated by reason of the transmission of heat through the cover 20thereto to a degree such as to cause it to become ignited and burn.However, the substantial thermal insulation characteristics of the covermentioned above will, in most cases, completely prevent this fromoccurring.

FIG. 13A illustrates in fragmentary, greatly enlarged, cross-sectionalform the heat-caused exfoliation of the particular type of protectivecover member material just described, with the multiplicity ofinsulating cells being designated by the reference numeral 34.

FIG. 13B illustrates a slight modification of the FIG. 13 form whereinthe fire-retardant material, such as that shown at 32 in FIG. 13, is notdisseminated throughout the matrix material in the manner shown in FIG.13, but is carried largely by a surface of the matrix material, which,in this case, is designated by the reference numeral 30a while thefire-retardant material is designated by the reference numeral 32a. Itshould be understood that the fire-retardant material 32a, whilesubstantially carried along one surface of the cover 20a, may also havea certain amount of matrix material associated with it to facilitate theforming of enlarged hollow cells in response to the application of greatheat in the manner indicated in FIG. 13C wherein the enlarged hollowcells are indicated by the reference numeral 34a.

FIG. ISO is a fragmentary view illustrating another slight modificationof the material forming the protective cover, which, in this case, is ofa woven or fabric form made of multiple strands of non-combustiblematerial, such as glass fiber, or the like, although not so limited,with each of said strands being designated by the reference numeral 36and with the entire protective cover being designated by the referencenumeral 20b. The fabric of the protective cover 20b is either coated orimpregnated with fire-retardant material functionally similar to thatshown at 32 in FIG. 13, 32a in FIG. 13B, and 32b in FIG. 13D and may, ifdesired, be associated with a suitable matrix material impregnating orcoating the fabric or may be independently provided in either or both ofsuch relationships with respect to the fabric. Thus, the woven or fabricform illustrated at 20b may function in either the manner of the FIG. 13form or the FIG. 1312 form or both of same essentially.

It should be clearly understood that the various representative showingsof different types of fire-retardant, fire-resistant, and/or positivefire-inhibiting materials illustrated are merely representative of manypossible forms thereof, all of which are intended to be basicallyincluded and comprehended within the broad scope of the presentinvention.

Also, it should be noted that the fire-retardant material need not belimited to an exfoliation function for increasing the percentage ofhollow space for increased thermal insulation characteristics, but mayalso be of a character such as to release gasses or vapors whichpositively inhibit or extinguish fire. Either or both of sucharrangements of the fire-retardant material are contemplated within thescope of the present invention.

The exemplary form of the invention illustrated shows the edge-fasteningmeans 28 as comprising, in each case, a longitudinal fastening bar, suchas is generally designated by the reference numeral 38, as best shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, and additionallycomprising a cooperating bar-to-groundfastening means, indicated generally at 39, including an upper,downwardly facing, transversely directed bar-engaging contact shouldermeans 40, taking the form of a transversely directed length of rod, andalso including a substantially vertically downwardly directed,groundpenetrating stake means 42. Each such longitudinal fastening bar38 of the plurality of such bars is provided with a contact portion forreceiving the forceful, downwardly directed contact of the transverselydirected rod 40, comprising the contact shoulder means, so that theentire longitudinal fastening bar 38 may be forced into firm sealingengagement with respect to the fasten-down edge portions 41 of theprotective cover 20 relative to the underlying ground surface portion26.

In the example illustrated, each of the longitudinal fastening bars 38is cross-sectionally of a substantially rectangular shape (actually,square shape in the example illustrated) having four sides provided withfour corresponding longitudinal groove means, each comprising one of thecontact portions 44 referred to hereinbefore and adapted to receive therod-shaped contact shoulder 40 therein when in the proper upwardlydirected position. In other words, the arrangement is such that any suchlongitudinal fastening bar 38 may be positioned with any of the foursides thereof, and the corresponding contact groove 44, facing upwardlyso as to receive the transversely directed rod 40 therein in the mannerclearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, after which the entireground-penetrating pointed stake 42 is forced downwardly into the groundsurface 26 to whatever extent is deemed necessary to firmly fasten thecorresponding fasten-down edge portion 41 of the protective cover 20 tothe underlying ground surface portion 26.

In the example illustrated, each rod-shaped contact shoulder means 40 isconnected to the downwardly directed stake means 42 by a reverselycurved, centrally positioned, neck portion 46, and the shaft part ofeach ground-penetrating stake means 42 is provided with anvil means forfacilitating the penetration of the pointed end 47 of the stake means 42into the ground surface portion 26. In the example illustrated, saidanvil means comprises a pair of oppositely positioned abutment shouldersor projection members 48 having horizontally directed top edges adaptedto receive a downwardly directed force thereon for driving the point 47into the ground surface 26. This may comprise the pressing of ones footagainst the upper edges of the projection members 48 to force the stake42 downwardly, or a sledge hammer, or the like, may be impacted againstthe upper edges of the projection members 48 for the same purpose. Also,the reversely curved neck portion 46 may effectively comprise such ananvil means and may be used for such force-receiving purposes tofacilitate penetration of the pointed end 47 into the ground surface 26.

In actual use, an entire kit or unit containing the various differentelements of the fire protection apparatus of the present invention isdelivered to a position adjacent to a house which is to be protected.Such an assembly or kit of all such elements is generally designated bythe reference numeral 50 in FIG. and

may be carried on a truck or delivered by a helicopter equipped withcables and a lowering hoist, or the like, and after the delivery of theentire basket or kit 50, the various panel portions of the completeprotective cover which it is desired to assemble and place over aresidential building, such as that shown in FIG. 1, for the purpose ofprotecting same from burning embers or firebrands produced by anapproaching fire storm, are removed from the welded-rod basket 52 andare either edge-joined together on the ground by the edge junction means24 or are hoisted into place with respect to the residential buildingand edge-joined to adjacent similarly hoisted-into-place panel portions.The best way to accomplish the above is to use a truck with a hoist orwinch which can be positioned on the opposite side of the house from theprotective cover or portion thereof which is to be pulled into place sothat tension can be applied to a cable passed over the roof of the houseand connected to the edge of the protective cover on the opposite sideof the house, which will lift the cover into place, or this may be donemanually. The mounting operation may be facilitated by the use oftemporary rope-supporting struts, boom means and/or pulleys engageablewith appropriate roof or edge portions of the house or adapted to engagethe ground surface and to extend upwardly alongside of the house to anappropriate elevation for functioning as a rope-supporting pulleytemporarily during the positioning operation just described in part. Inany event, as soon as the entire protective cover is properly positionedover the house, the fasten-down edges 41 thereof are firmly fastened tothe corresponding parts of the ground surface 26 through the use ofmultiple units of the edge-fastening means generally designated by thereference numeral 28, and one of which has just been described in detailhereinbefore. Of course, any excess parts of the protective cover 20which may be left over as a consequence of the difference in shape ofthe building structure to be protected and the protective cover 20 maythen be folded into appropriately overlapped relationship so as toprovide a relatively closefitting engagement around the exterior of thebuilding structure, as is clearly shown in FIG. 1. Two such folded-backportions are indicated by the reference numeral S4 in FIG. 1 wherein twosuch end flaps are shown at the near end of the house and arerepresentative of the other two which are positioned at the opposite endof the house. Said folded-back end flaps 54 may be fastened into placepartly by the bottom engagement thereof by corresponding edge fasteningmeans 28 of the type previously described in detail and/or by additionalhook or strap-like fastening of inner edges thereof to each other or toother parts of the protective cover or to any other suitable fasteningor attachment means.

The protective cover is provided with a plurality of reinforcing andstrengthening straps, such as indicated at 56, effectively joinedthereto at a plurality of spaced locations and in a predeterminedpattern which usualiy includes an arrangement such that certain of thereinforcing straps 56 cross each other at predetermined, multiplecross-over locations, such as indicated at 57, for exemplary purposesand in a predetermined, corssover, angular relationship which is aperpendicular, angular, cross-over relationship in the exemplary formillustrated, although not specifically so limited. The reinforcing strapmeans 56 may be effectively connected to the corresponding portions ofeach of the protective cover panel portions 22 by being sewn thereto orby being attached thereto by appropriate adhesive means or connectedthereto in any other suitable manner.

The reinforcing strap means 56 are effectively provided with attachmentmeans-at the cross-over locations 57 (usually at all of same, although,in certain forms of the invention, certain of the cross-over locationsmay be excluded) with said attachment means being adapted to beconnected to a first connection means or end of a correspondingauxiliary fastening strap means 64 which may have its opposite end,effec tively comprising asecond connection means, cooperative for tautconnection thereof with respect to said bar-to-gro'und fastening means39 of the edge engagement means 28.

A typical one of said attachment means is generally designated by thereference numeral 58 as best shown in FIG. 5 and comprises a pair ofcrossed reinforcing strap loops 60 and 62 OF the reinforcing straps 56at a corresponding one of the cross-over locations 57. in fact, in apreferred form of the invention, such a holddown attachment means 58 islocated at each crossover region although the invention is notspecifically so limited in all forms thereof.

The above-mentioned attachment means 58 is, in each case, adapted to befastened with respect to a corresponding one of the plurality ofedge-fastening means 28 by an auxiliary fastening strap means, such asis generally designated by the reference numeral 64, which is shown asbeing of fiat, high-tensile-strength fireproof material having a firstconnection means, such as is generally designated by the referencenumeral 66, at an upper end thereof and cooperative for engagement withany individual one of the plurality of first-mentioned attachment means58. In the example illustrated, each of said first-mentioned connectionmeans 66 comprises an end-positioned loop portion 68 of the strap orwebbing material provided with a twoelement, controllably connectiblefastening hook means 70 having first and second hook elements 72 and 74carried by a corresponding end of the strap member 64 spaced apart bysaid end-positioned loop portion 68 and of a controllably openable andclosable nature so that said manually operable hook portion 74 can bepassed through the twin holddown attachment loops 60 and 62 and can thenbe fastened with respect to the fastening ring 72 in the manner bestshown in FIG. for positively connecting said first connection means 66to said first-mentioned attachment means 58. The arrangement is suchthat the connection means 66 can be readily disengaged from theattachment means 58 by merely manually opening the engagement hook 74and disengaging it from the attachment hook member 72 and then removingthe loop portion 68 from the attachment loops 60 and 62.

A second type of attachment means is also provided for the opposite endsof the plurality of auxiliary fastening strap means 64 and, in theexemplary form of the invention illustrated, said second-mentionedattachment means is carried by the bar-to-ground fastening means 39 ofeach of the edge-fastening means 28 and, in general, may be said tocomprise any accessible upper part of the complete bar-to-groundfastening means 39 around which the opposite or free end 76 of each suchfastening strap 64 may be wound, looped, tied, or otherwise fastened. Inthe exemplary form illustrated, said second-mentioned attachment meansincludes an attachment bracket member, such as is generally designatedby the reference numeral 78 and which is of substantially T-shapedconfiguration to facilitate the tying of the free end 76 of theattachment strap 64 thereto in a manner such as is best shown in FIG. 3.However, it should be clearly understood that the free end 76 of thefastening strap 64 may be wrapped around the rod-shaped shoulder 40 oraround the reversely curved neck 46 or attached with respect to thebar-to-ground fastening means 39 in any other suitable manner, or in anycombination of the manners just indicated, and all such arrangements areintended to be included and comprehended within the scope of the presentinvention.

As previously mentioned, each of the panel portions 22 of the completecomposite protective cover shown in FIG. 1 is provided with edgejunction means, such as generally designated at 24, including matingsets of first and second junction elements of two different types(usually of what might be termed a male type or a female type) carriedalong corresponding joinable edges of each of the panel portions whichare to be joined together to form the desired composite, complete,protective cover in any particular desired size or shape within thepossible range of variation thereof provided by the number of suchdifferent sizes and shapes of panel portions initially supplied in thebasket 52 of FIG. 15 (or otherwise supplied). In the diagrammaticshowing of FIG. 16, each female set of first junction elements is markedwith the letter F while each male set of second junction elements of themating sets thereof is marked with the letter M, and each of said setsof first and second junction elements (male and female) carried by eachadjacent joinable edge is shown in FIG. 16 with a directional arrowindicating the direction of joining movement of a mechanical sliderelement of a mechanical fastener type of edge junction means of the kindcommonly known as a zipper fastener. Such a fastener is illustrated inits actual physical appearance in FIG. 17 and is to be clearlyunderstood as merely being representative of one type of edge junctionmeans which may be employed.

It should be noted that various numbers, sizes, and shapes of panelportions may be provided as thought necessary for the purpose of beingselectively combined into virtually any desired size and shape ofcomposite panel for protecting virtually any size and shape ofresidential building. However, in FIG. 16 certain representative typesof sizes and shapes of panel portions which have been found veryeffective and useful for forming a number of different sizes and shapesof composite cover suitable for protecting most residential buildingsare shown. These comprise the four somewhat square panel portions 22shown in FIG. 16 and each of which is, in one representative form, of aI2 feet by I2 feet size, although not specifically so limited. Lyingbetween each of the four corner-positioned, small, square panel portions22 are rectangular panel portions 22, each of which, in the exampleillustrated, is 12 feet by 48 feet long, although not specifically solimited. The central panel portion 22 shown in FIG. 16 is a large,square panel portion 48 feet by 48 feet, although not specifically solimited. Normally, a selected number of each type of panel portion willbe supplied in a kit or basket such as that shown at 52 in FIG. 14 andeach of the different sizes, shapes, and/or types of panel portions willbe provided with panel coding and identification means, such as beingdifferently colored, for the purpose of making it possible to veryquickly identify each different size, shape, or type of panel portionwhen it is being removed from the basket 52 of FIG. 15 and is being veryquickly assembled and hoisted into place over a residential buildingwhich is to be protected from a rapidly approaching fire storm. As anexample only, it should be noted that the central large 48 feet by 48feet square panel portion 22 of FIG. 16 is colored orange, whichcomprises its particular coding and identification means, while each ofthe four 12 feet by 48 feet rectangular panel portions is coloredyellow, which comprises its individual coding and identification means,and each of the four small square 12 feet by 12 feet corner panelportions is colored red, which comprises its individual coding andidentification means. However, various other types of coding andidentification means may be employed.

The zipper-type edge junction means 24 shown in detail in FIG. 17includes a female set of junction elements 80 and a male set ofjunctionelements 82 which are adapted to be mated and engaged together by theslider element 84 when it is moved in the engagement direction, such asindicated by the twin arrows 86 of FIG. 16 or the single arrow 86 ofFIG. 17. Conversely, when the slider element 84 is moved in thedirection opposite to said arrows 86, it disengages and separates themale and female elements 82 and 80.

A preferred form of the invention also includes edge junction coding andidentification means carried by the panel portions 22 of the protectivesheet in identifying association with the corresponding mating male andfemale junction elements, such as the male junction elements 82 shown inFIG. 17 and the female junction elements 80 shown in FIG. 17, which areto be considered as representative of all such edge junction mating setsof elements. As illustrated in exemplary form in FIG. 17, the edgejunction coding and identification means is indicated at 88 andcomprises the colored strips 90 and 92, which are shown as being blueand green, respectively, although not specifically so limited.

The idea then is that when the initial rapid assembly of the variousdesired panel portions into a complete composite panel 20 and thehoisting of same into protective relationship over a residentialbuilding is to be accomplished quickly before an approaching fire stormgets too close, the persons assembling and positioning the panelportions will merely follow the rule, which is to always place a blueedge adjacent to a green edge, which will of course properly place maleand female edge junction means portions adjacent to each other for quickedge joining thereof.

Also, it should be noted that, in the exemplary arrangement illustrated,all of the female edge junction element sets indicated by the letter Fin FIG. 16 and physically shown at 80 in FIG. 17 are of a kind adaptedto be engaged by movement of a slider, such as that shown at 84, in acounter-clockwise direction relative to the center of the correspondingpanel portion, while all of the male edge junction element setsindicated by the letter M in FIG. 16 and such as physically shown at 82in FIG. 17 are arranged to be engaged with respect to the correspondingfemale junction element sets in response to movement of a slider, suchas that shown at 84 in a clockwise direction relative to the center ofthe corresponding panel portion.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the edge junction means portionsof any particular panel portion are arranged in a manner such thatopposite edges have the same kind of edge junction means portions. Thatis, directly opposite edges will have either female junction elementsets or male junction element sets, while the other pair of 90 displacedjunction element sets will, in each case, both be of the other type thatis, both male junction element sets or both female junction elementsets, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 16.

The above-described exemplary arrangement is such that irrespective ofhow the panel portions are assembled, provided that the blue and greenedge junction coding and identification means are always positionedadjacent to eachother, it will befound that the adjacent junctionelements will always be of the opposite type and adapted to be closed bymovement of a slider element such as that shown at 84 in the samedirection so that they can be quickly and easily joined together.However, it should be noted that the invention is not specificallylimited to the use of zipper-type edge junction means in all formsthereof. Hooks and-eyes, buttons and buttonholes, snap fasteners, hookfasteners, and intermeshing fasteners of the type known as Velcrofasteners, any other type of mechanical fasteners, magnetic fasteners,electrostatic fasteners, adhesive and/or cohesive fasteners, or anyother substantially functionally equivalent form of fasteners may beemployed in lieu thereof. Also, various other forms of coding andidentification means may be employed.

The protective cover means 20 is provided with a plurality of edgejunction bridging and reinforcing means, such as the representative oneshown in FIG. 6, which is generally designated by the reference numeral94 and which, in each case, is adapted to be placed in effectiveoverriding, bridging, edge-junctionstrengthening relationship withrespect to a particular location along a particular pair of joined edgesof adjacent panel portions of the protective cover 20 by passing overthe corresponding part of the joined edge junction means 24 so as toremove excessive stress therefrom and to effectively transfer stress orload from one panel to a adjacent panel quite independent of the edgejunction means 24.

In a preferred form, each of said edge junction bridging and reinforcingmeans 94 comprises a two-element means including controllably engageableand disengageable first and second elements which are usually hookmeans, although not specifically so limited in all forms of theinvention, and with said first and second elements being firmly attachedto corresponding end portions of corresponding ones of the previouslymentioned reinforcing straps 56. One such representative arrangement isclearly shown in FIG. 6 wherein the two elements of the edge junctionbridging and reinforcing means 94 comprise first and second book members96, each of the controllably openable and closable type and with eachhaving an attachment ring 98 at its rear end attached in a structurallystrong manner to the end of the corresponding reinforcing strap 56carried by the corresponding different one of the two panel portions 22of the protective cover 20. This provides an arrangement which allowsthe two hooks 96 to be very easily connected together across the zipperedge junction means 24 in a manner substantially removing stresstherefrom.

It should be noted that in the exemplary form of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 1 in mounted relationship over a residentialbuilding, there is such an edge junction bridging and reinforcing meansin each location where transversely directed, aligned reinforcing strapsS6 meet a joined edge junction means 24, such as along the completelength of the centrally positioned edge junction means 24 of FIG. 1containing the representative edge junction bridging and reinforcingmeans 94 positioned within the small portion of the apparatus enclosedwithin the circle designated by the arrow and numeral 6 at each locationwhere said edge junction means 24 effectively crosses or passes betweentransversely aligned ends of the reinforcing straps 56. Also, there issuch an edge junction bridging and reinforcing means 94 at each locationalong the ridge pole portion of the cover 20 where any of thereinforcing strap ends 56 (directed transverse to the ridge poledirection) meet each other on opposite sides of the ridge pole location.The same is true with respect to the opposite side of the protectivecover 20 on the opposite, unseen side of the residential building ofFIG. 1.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the fold-back end flaps 54 may befastened down entirely by the edge fastening means 28 or certain of theauxiliary straps 64 may be attached to the attachment means 58 thereofin a manner similar to that illustrated in FIG. and describedhereinbefore, and opposite ends of the straps 64 may be tied to anysuitable holding member such as any other attachment loop means such asthat shown at 58 in FIG. 5 or free ends of the straps 64 may be tied toeach other or to any portion of the building structure or any adjacentstructure. Additionally, the hook means 96 may be employed for aiding orfacilitating in the fastening of the end flaps 54 in a desired tautrelationship.

It should be noted that various obstacles or structures around thebuilding need not interfere with the effective wrapping or enclosing ofthe building within the protective cover 20. For example, the fence 98shown in FIG. 1 and which effectively is the same as the diagrammaticfence 98 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, may have the edge of the protectivecover passed vertically thereover and may then pass under abutmentshoulders 40 of two of the bar-to-ground fastener means 39 positioned oneach side of the fence 98 and a fastener strap 64 may be drawn over thefence 98 and the edge of the cover 20 and tied to the attachment means78 of each of the two bar-to-ground fastener means 39, usually afterhaving been wrapped around the corresponding rod-shaped shoulder 40 afew times before similar wrapping around a part of the curved neck 46and then being tied to the attachment means 78. When this is done andeach of the two bar-to-ground fastening means 39 is driven downwardlyinto the upper surface of the ground 26, it will be found'that a veryeffective sealing of the edge of the cover 20 relative to the fence 98has been achieved.

Also, wherever the roof of the building has a necessary projectingstructure which cannot be temporarily removed to facilitate the placingof the protective cover 20 over the building, special panel portions toallow such a structure to pass therethrough while maintaining a tightseal therearound are provided. One such arrangement for allowing anelectrical input from a nearby electric power line to remain in positionwith respect to the roof of a building and to not interfere with theplacement of the protective cover of the present invention is shown inFIG. 18 in detail although it should be understood that such anarrangement is adapted to be positioned at the corresponding location ofthe arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 where the electrical input 100 isshown as being located. As best shown in FIG. 18, said special panelportion is designated by the reference numeral 102 and has reinforcingstraps 56 similar to those previously described. It also has edgejunction means portions around all or several of the edges thereof suchas indicated at 24 and additionally has the hook-type fasteners 96'similar to those shown at 96 in FIG. 6 and, thus, through the use ofvarious of these means can normally be quickly and easily engaged withrespect to other adjacent panel portions of the protective cover 20 atan appropriate location with respect to the electrical input structure100. The special panel portion 102 has slot means 104 usually providedwith a double-zipper closure arrangement so that it can be placed aroundthe electrical input 100, or other projecting structure, and themultiple zipper fasteners can be closed along desired portions of theslot 104 until only a small portion, such as that shown at 106, is notclosed, and it effectively defines a through-aperture for the projectionirrespective of its location along the slot 104. In using the specialcover portion 102, it .should be noted that it may be placed over aportion of a roof which does not have an underlying, completely sealedcover panel portion or which has had same either perforated or partiallycut away to allow the passage therethrough of the projection 100, afterwhich the special panel 102 is fastened thereover and has the slot 104closed to the maximum possible extent around the projection 100, thusproviding an effectively closed and sealed and effectively patched topcover portion. Also, if desired, a slot similar to that shown at 104 inFIG. 18 may be provided in a large panel in a way such as to extendclear to the lower or foot edge thereof in the manner shown in FIG. 1 sothat an extra auxiliary patching panel may not be needed.

The same type of arrangement may be provided for closely encircling mostany type of projecting roof structure even relatively large projectingroof structures such as chimneys, and the like although in certainextremely hazardous situations it may be found that, in the case of manydifferent types of roof projections, it is more desirable to actuallyremove the roof projection (even if subsequent substantial repairs willbe required) in order to facilitate the proper close seal ing, covering,and protecting of the complete house so that it will not be destroyed bya rapidly approaching fire storm.

A typical fastening relationship of the edge fastening means 28 withrespect to the fasten-down edge means 41 of the protective cover 20 ismost clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are views of correspondingparts of the protective cover of FIG. 1 fastened over the correspondingresidential structure. However, in describing the various differentmodes of use of the apparatus of the invention under various differentenvironmental conditions and with respect to various different types ofstructures carried by ground surface portions adjacent to a coveredbuilding structure, the simplified arrangement shown in FIG. 7 andvarious sectional views taken on parts thereof are employed purely forpurposes of simplification. Therefore, the same reference numerals areused in this view.

It will be noted that on the side (or sides) of the building structureclosest to an approaching fire storm, which might, for example, beapproaching from the direction indicated by the directional arrow 108 ofFIG. 7, for example, although not specifically so limited, thefasten-down edges 41 of the protective cover 20 are provided with moreof the edge-fastening means 28 than are provided along the other twosides of the building (such as shown at the left and bottom of FIG. 7)where said edge-fastening means 28 are fewer in number. This is merelyindicative of the fact that on the side (or sides) closest to anapproaching fire storm, the fastenedown edges 41 of the protective cover20 should be sealed with respect to adjacent ground surface portions 26to the greatest possible extent since these will be the edges of theprotective cover 20 which would be most susceptible to being rippedloose from the residential building being protected by the cover, as

a consequence of high-velocity winds from a rapidly approaching firestorms getting under the near fastendown edges 41 of the cover 20 andthen effectively tearing it away from the building. This is much lesslikely to occur on the other two sides of the building and that is thereason for the distribution of edge-fastening means 28 illustrated inFIG. 7. However, the invention is not limited to any particulardistribution of said edgefastening means and they may be distributed asthought necessary in any of a variety of different conditions of use.

Normally, the windows on the side of the building closest to theapproaching fire storm will be closed by one of the crew of men whosubsequently place the protective cover over the building, while windowson the other two sides of the building may be opened if this is thoughtdesirable for purposes of heated air pressure equalization, etc.,although the invention is not so limited.

FIG. 9 illustrates a typical enlarged view of portions of four of theedge-fastening means individual units with one of them shown firmlyfastened down but not connected to any of the auxiliary fastening strapsand with a second one firmly fastened down over a fastendown edge of theprotective cover and additionally acting as an anchor or attachment forthe lower end of one of the auxiliary fastening strap means which hasits upper end attached to one of the attachment means of the protectivecover in a manner such as is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. is a view illustrating a modified use of the edge-fasteningmeans'when a substantial portion of the ground surface 26 takes the formof a driveway, or the like, such as that shown at 110. When this occurs,it obviously is not possible to hold down each longitudinal bar 38 inthe manner best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 because the ground-penetratingstake 42 obviously cannot be driven through the hardened concrete of thedriveway 110. Thus in this modification, each of the two bar-to-groundfastening means 39 is positioned just beyond the side edge of theconcrete driveway 1 l0 and is rotated 90 degrees from the normalengaging position with respect to the longitudinal fastening bars 39best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this case, the actual fastening of oneor more of the longitudinal bars 38 and the downward pressing of sameagainst the fasten-down edge 41 of the protective cover is provided byextending one or more auxiliary fastening straps 64, or two auxiliaryfastening straps 64, fastened together at their ends and then stretchingsame along one or more of the aligned longitudinal grooves, such asshown at 44 in FIG. 3, for example, and then wrapping said auxiliarystraps 64 around the transverse contact shoulder 40 of each of the twobar-to-ground fastening means 39 and then wrapping said straps around atleast a portion of the reversely curved neck 46 of each of the twobar-toground fastening means 39 and then tying same to the T-shapedsecond attachment bracket 78 of each of same. Of course, the pointedstake portions 42 are driven downwardly into the adjacent ground surfaceportions 26 as shown in FIG. 9 until the auxiliary fastening straps 64are drawn very taut along the top groove (or grooves) 44 so that one ormore of the longitudinal fastening bars 38 will firmly-hold thefastendown edge portion 41 of the protective cover in sealedrelationship on the top surface of the driveway 110, as is clearly shownin FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates one means for providing an enhanced seal between thefasten-down edge 41 of the protective cover 20 and the surface of thedriveway, which is accomplished by shoveling a quantity of dirt, sand,gravel, or the like, over what amounts to the threshold of the driveway110 at the location where the longitudinal bar (or bars) 38 of theedgefastening means 28 will be placed. This makes it possible to forcethe bar (or bars) 38 downwardly in a manner which correspondinglydisplaces and shapes the loose gravel or dirt 112 so that a veryeffective seal is provided, as is clearly shown in FIG. 12. However, theinvention is not specifically limited to the FIG. 12 arrangement forproviding such an effective seal.

FIG. 11 is a view generally similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates aslightly different mode of use of the edgefastening means 28 over asidewalk portion of the ground surface 26. In this case, the majordifference in the engagement of the two bar-to-ground fastening means 39with respect to the pair of longitudinal bars 38 is to have their topsurfaces actually engaged by each of the two contact shoulders 40 whichlie transversely across the top surfaces of end portions of the two bars38, as is clearly shown in FIG. 11. One or more of the auxiliaryfastening straps 64 lie along the top grooves 44 in the mannerpreviously described in connection with the FIG. 10 showing, and outerends thereof are fastened to the bar-to-ground fastening means 39 in thesame manner as previously described in connection with FIG. 10. Thesidewalk which is illustrated as being made of concrete is designated bythe reference numeral 114.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 and illustrates how theedge-fastening means 28 can be used very effectively for sealing afasten-down edge portion 41 of the protective cover 20 to ground surfaceportions 26 which are of irregular (non-planar) contour, such as isillustrated in FIG. 14. The mode of use of the edge-fastening means 28,as shown in FIG. 14, is very similar to that shown in both FIGS. 10 and11, with the major difference being the fact that more than two of thebar-to-ground fastening means 39 are employed in FIG. 14 and each isdriven into the ground surface 26 at a low point, with higher groundsurface elevations being positioned therebetween. Also, the extended ormultiple, linked, auxiliary strap means 64 is differently engaged withrespect to the middle bar-to-ground fastening means 39 than it is withrespect to the two end bar-to-ground fastening means 39 in that thelinked, auxiliary strap means 64 is wrapped around the contact shoulderrod 40 of the middle bar-to-ground fastening means 39 and is not woundaround the reversely curved neck portion 46 thereof and tied thereto asit is to each of the two end bar-to-ground fastening means 39. Thisarrangement, with all of the lowest attachment points of the linkedfastening strap means 64 to each of the three contact shoulders 40 beingat the lowest portions of the ground surface 26, causes the linkedfastening strap means 64 at all intervening regions to be pulleddownwardly into taut relationship over the fasten-down edge 41 of theprotective cover 20 and the underlying elevated portions of the groundsurface 26 whereby to provide a very effective seal therebetween.

The basket 52 shown in FIG. is one form of structure well suited tostoring the entire apparatus in disassembled form for quick and easymovement to a location adjacent to a residential building which is to beprotected in the manner shown in FIG. I or FIG. 2. Said movement may beby truck, helicopter, or in any suitable manner, and it should be notedthat the basket 52 is made of welded rod construction in the exemplaryform illustrated and includes one or more swing-down gates, such asshown at 116, to facilitate easy access to the items stored thereincomprising the various panel portions of the protective cover in foldedup, stacked relationship. Such panel portions are generally designatedby the reference numeral 22 in FIG. 15 and may comprise any of thevarious different types, sizes, and shapes of panel portions previouslyreferred to. Each of the plurality of longitudinal fastening bars 38 ofeach of the bar-to-ground fastening means is stored on a plurality ofupwardly directed rods 118 adapted to be inserted through the receivingholes or storage mounting apertures 120 carried adjacent to each end ofeach of the longitudinal bars 38, as is perhaps best shown in FIG. 3, sothat all of the fastening bars 38 will be stored in the verticallystacked relationship on the two storage rods 118 clearly shown at theleft or near end of the basket 52 illustrated in FIG. 15. The pluralityof bar-to-ground fastening means 39, including the ground-penetratingstakes 42, is adapted to be stored on a storage rack or rod (orplurality of rods) 122. The plurality of auxiliary fastening straps maybe stored in between the various cover portions 22, on top thereof, orat any other convenient location within or with respect to the basket52.

It should be noted that the entire basket 52 is mounted on a pluralityof similar foot portions 124 providing sufficient bottom spacing toallow the fork of a fork-lift power-lifting machine to be inserted underthe complete basket, thus making it possible to facilitate the easylifting, transport, and setting down of the basket anywhere in loaded orunloaded condition by such powered fork-lift machines in a mannersimilar to the conventional handling of what is commonly known aspallets by such powered fork-lift machines. Also, it should be notedthat the downwardly projecting feet 124 are set inwardly to an extentsufficient to allow the vertical stacking of such baskets by allowingthe inset feet 124 to extend downwardly through the open top of the nextunderlying basket and into supported contact with four corner-positionedbrace members 126 thereof.

The basket 52 is also provided with a plurality of (four, in the exampleillustrated) engagement loop, hook, or eye portions 128 which areintended to be engaged by corresponding hook portions of a helicopterhoist cable having corresponding multiple cable attachment portions atthe bottom thereof so that the entire basket 52 can be lifted,transported, and placed at any desired location by a helicopter,preferably of the type having a controllably operable power winch andhoist.

The number, types, and sizes of protective cover sheet panel portions 22to be carried in the basket 52 are somewhat variable, depending to someextent upon the anticipated size and/or shape of a residential buildingwhich is to be protected thereby, and can, correspondingly, be varied tomeet the requirements of particular projected building sizes and shapes.

However, I have found that one representative, generally adequatearrangement is to provide five of the large square sheets (or panelportions), such as the center sheet 22 of FIG. 16, for example, whichmay be approximately 48 feet by 48 feet in one form thereof, to providefive of the rectangular sheets (or panel portions), such as the fourrectangular sheets 22 shown in FIG. 16, which in one representative formmay be 12 feet by 48 feet, to provide five of the small square sheets(or panel portions) 22, such as shown at the four corners of therepresentative lay-out of FIG. 16, and with each of said small squaresheets or panel portions 22, in one representative form, being 12 feetby 12 feet, and to provide one large square sheet, such as that shown at102 in FIG. 18, which may be of the same size as the other large squaresheets or, in certain cases, of a somewhat lesser size, and to providean adequate number of the auxiliary fastening straps of the type shownfragmentarily in FIGS. 4 and 5 and, in certain cases, also of a typehaving the hooks at each end.

It should be noted that, as previously mentioned, the panel portions 22of the composite protective cover sheet 20 are provided with thereinforcing straps or tapes which, in a preferred form, lie in arectangularly arranged, grid-like pattern with the straps of a firstgroup thereof being substantially parallel and being spaced from eachother by a predetermined first type of spacing, and with the otherstraps of a second group thereof being substantially perpendicular tothe first group of straps and being spaced (by a second type of spacing)from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first spacingdirection of the first group of parallel straps. This of course causesthe straps of each of the two different groups or sets to cross eachother at regular, predetermined, cross-over locations such as therepresentative crossover locations shown at 57 in FIG. 1, for example,where each of the attachment means 58 is formed by the crossed loops 60and 62, such as is best shown with respect to a representative singleattachment means 58in FIG. 5.

In the preferred rectangular, grid-like arrangement of the reinforcingstraps 56, they may be positioned at various predetermined spacingintervals, such as 4 feet apart, 6 feet apart, 8 feet apart, or even 12feet apart, and, in certain cases, the spacing may vary in the twodifferent directions. However, I have found one very effectivearrangement to be a 4 foot spacing between reinforcing straps or tapes56, with tapes along edges of the panel portions very close to saidedges, although they may be spaced inwardly a short distance therefrom,up to the order of approximately 6 inches or so, in certain forms of theinvention. I have also found that ends of the tapes should be providedwith hooks of the type shown at 96 in FIG. 6 (or any other substantiallyfunctionally equivalent means) in virtually all locations, althoughthere are certain sides of some of the panel portions where said hooksmay remain inoperative if they lie at a terminus not adjacent to anotherpanel portion or to some fastening structure. In general, it is simplerto have the hooks at virtually all tape ends on the premise that it isbetter to have certain books which may not be used than to require hooksand find that they are not present.

The remarks advanced above with respect to the hooks 96 are equallyapplicable with respect to the zipper-type edge junction means 24 thatis, certain edges of certain panel portions may end up with free zipperportions not engaged to mating zipper portions, and it would appear thatsuch zipper portions might be eliminated and, in certain cases, they canbe. In general it is preferable to have excess zipper portions so that,no matter how the panel portions are assembled, there will always be azipper portion where it is needed. However, wherever it does not appearthat zipper portions will be engaged, they can be eliminated, and, also,it should be noted that other types of edge junction means may beemployed in lieu thereof, such as various kinds of mechanical fastenersof the hook and eye type, of the button or snap fastener type, of theso-called Velcro type, or even various kinds of adhesive fastener meansor edge junction means may be employed in lieu of the zipper type edgejunction means illustrated and described hereinbefore, and all sucharrangements are intended to be included and comprehended within thebroad scope of the invention. For example, the sheet 102 of FIG. 18 mayhave certain or all of the zippers eliminated and may rely upon books ofthe type shown at 96 in FIG. 6, or any other equivalent type ofmechanical fastener, for fastening said sheet or panel 102 in place.

It should also be noted that the cover sheet 20, and/or the panelportions thereof, may be made of an elastic or stretch-type material soas to be capable of assuming the shape of a residential buildingenclosed within the composite sheet in certain forms of the invention.It should also be noted that cover flaps may be provided to cover edgejunctions if desired, particularly where the edge junctions are of atype other than zipper fasteners.

The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 shows a somewhat differentlyshaped residential building from that of FIG. 1 protected by a somewhatdifferent composite protective cover 20 made up of the cover panelportions 22 assembled a little differently than in FIG. I. As shown inFIG. 2, two large cover panel portions 22 are placed over the top of thebuilding and are joined at the center by the junction means 24 and haveopposite ends and side portions thereof folded under the eaves of thebuilding and then have a plurality of the endjoined rectangular panelportions of the type shown at the sides in FIG. 16 effectively wrappedaround all side walls of the building and over the folded-down endportions of the cover panels 22 positioned over the roof of thebuilding, thus completely enclosing same within the wrapped-around,end-positioned, rectangular panel portions 22 completely enclosing allside walls of the residential building of FIG. 2. The top edge 130 ofthe end-joined rectangular panel portions 22 wrapped around the sidewalls of the residential building of FIG. 2 may be attachedand-supported by connection of hooks of the type shown at 96 in FIG. 6(or any effective functional equivalent) to corresponding hooks, orattachment means 58, of the panel portions 22 positioned over the roofof the residential building, or may have certain of the auxiliaryfastening straps 64 upwardly directed and fastened to correspondinghooks, or attachment means 58, carried by any of the reinforcing straps56 of the panel portions 22 mounted on the roof of the residentialstructure, or one or more of such auxiliary straps 64 may be thrown overany upper building portion or projection so as to support the upper edge130 of the effective protective continuoussheet side wall formed by theend-joined rectangular panel portions 22 completely wrapped around theside wall of the residential building. Bottom edges of said rectangular,continuous, side wall panel portion 22, comprising part of the completeprotective cover 20, are fastened down through the use of edgeengagement means 28 which is of the same type as that previously fullydescribed in connection with the FIG. 1 protected-building disclosure. Aprotective sheet of the type shown at 102 in FIG. 18 will normally bepositioned around the electrical inlet 100 near the right corner of FIG.2, but is not shown in detail in FIG. 2 for reasons of drawing clarityand simplification since such a showing is illustrated in FIG. 18 andhas already been fully described.

All of the edge engagement means are preferably made of relativelylightweight material, such as aluminum, or the like, having a highstrength-to-weight ratio. Also, all of the material is of a fireproofnature including all of the auxiliary fastening straps 64, all orreinforcing straps 56, and all panel portions 22.

A brief description of one typical installation operation follows. Atruck carrying a fully loaded basket, such as that shown at 52 in FIG.15, and having a crew of five men will drive to the house which is to beprotected, and the first man will proceed to unload the fireproof panelportions 22 of the protective cover from the basket 52, along with thevarious fastening straps and various other parts, so as to facilitate afast assembly operation. It is estimated that this will require about 3minutes time of the first man.

The second man will select appropriate tools such as a pipe wrench, apair of pliers, a Crescent wrench, and a small asbestos sheet, or otherheat-insulating sheet, for protecting the gas meter, as describedhereinafter, and will then proceed to the house and turn off the gasmeter and then cover the gas meter and pipes and adjacent ground areawith the asbestos sheeting for the purpose of preventing a gas explosionfrom excessive heat. Then man No. 2 proceeds to the available gasoutlets and bleeds all of the lines throughout the house of all gas andthen, if possible, closes the valves thereafter. Man No. 2 then proceedsto the electrical circuitbreaker or fuse box and opens all circuits andthen returns to the truck. This has been estimated to require about 3minutes time of man No. 2.

The third man picks up a pipe cutter, a wire cutter, a pair of pliers,an adjustable wrench, a short length of light rope, and a ladder, andthen places the ladder against a convenient portion of the roof of thehouse, climbs to the roof, unbolts the television antenna from I theroof at the anchor point, if convenient, and, if not convenient, cutsthe television antenna mounting post a short distance (such as twoinches, for example) above the anchor point with the pipe cutter. Hethen cuts or unfastens the television antenna guy wires and lowers thetelevision antenna and mounting post or mast to the ground with theshort length of rope. Man No. 3 stays on the roof ready to assist withthe subsequent installation of the protective cover over the house. Ithas been estimated that the foregoing operations of man No. 3 to thispoint will require about 3 minutes time of man No. 3.

The fourth man proceeds through the house, opening all inside doors,cupboard doors, kitchen doors, bedroom doors, and doors connected tostairwells and the like. He also opens as many windows as possible onthe side (or sides) of the house opposite or away from the wind producedby the approaching fire storm. He then examines all available waterfaucets to see that they are closed and, if not, closes same. Theseoperations are primarily to prevent flooding and heated-air explosions.Man No. 4 then returns to the truck. It has been estimated that theforegoing operations will require about 3 minutes time of man No.4.

Man No. 5 proceeds to distribute all of the anchor bars and stakes (theedge engagement means), all of the ropes (the fastening straps), andseveral sledge hammers to the various needed locations around the housewhich is to be protected. A solid line of the anchor bars oredge-fastening means will be needed on the side (or sides) of the housenearest to the approaching fire storm. The foregoing operations havebeen estimated to require approximately 3 minutes time ofman No.5.

Now all five men proceed to assemble and move the panel sections 22, andcomplete composite protective cover sheet 20, into the proper positionover the house,

using power equipment such as winches, auxiliary overhead pulleys andbooms, or the like (or doing it manually) said operations being arrangedso as to facilitate the complete assembling of the composite cover andthe proper positioning thereof completely over the house in whatevermanner experimental testing proves to be most expeditious. It isestimated that this will take approximately minutes time of all fivemen.

All five men then proceed to place the anchor bars and stakes (the edgeengagement means), the various tie ropes (fastening straps) in theproper relationship so as to encompass any auxiliary objects around thebuilding, such as fences, driveways, walks, and the like, and such as tofirmly fasten them over the complete exterior edge of the compositeprotective cover to adjacent underlying ground surface portions in aneffectively sealed manner such as has been described in greater detailhereinbefore. It is estimated that the foregoing operations will requireapproximately 7 minutes time of the complete five-man crew.

Thus it will be seen that the exemplary installation operation describedabove will require minutes per house for the five-man crew, and normallyeach truck would carry at least two complete units for sequentialinstallation requiring a nominal total installation time of 40 minutes.Thus it can be seen that a relatively small number of trucks and crewscould protect a substantial number of homes along the edge of aresidential tract toward which a fire storm is approaching, so that noneof said edge-positioned homes will catch fire and there will be noeffective airborne spreading of the fire storm in the undesirable mannerreferred to hereinbefore. Homes positioned further back in such aresidential tract will, in certain cases, have only their roofsprotected since their side walls will be in part protected by the fullyprotected, edgepositioned, homes mentioned above. This should make itpossible, within a matter of several hours when a fire storm is movingtoward a given residential region, to protect a sufficient number ofhomes to prevent the airborne spreading of the fire in such residential,high fire hazard areas of the type referred to hereinbefore.

It should be noted that the various fasteners and engagement means, andthe materials thereof, described hereinbefore are exemplary of one ofthe many possible forms of the invention lying withing the broad scopehereof.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1, Fire protection apparatus for a building, comprising: flexible,thin-sheet, protective cover means of fireretardant material havingfasten-down edge portions and intervening area-covering,building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placed over and inenclosing relationship with respect to a building which is to beprotected from a high-velocity fire, with said areacovering,building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorlycovering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such abuilding from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burningembers which may come into contact therewith from an approachinghigh-velocity fire, and with said fastendown edge portions beingeffectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means andbeing adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same withrespect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such abuilding, said panel portions of said protective cover means beingprovided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edgefastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachmentmeans; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having firstconnection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to anycorresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment meansprovided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of saidprotective cover means and having second connection means of acontrollably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connectionmeans cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of saidmultiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones ofsaid edge fastening means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said edge fastening meanscomprises a plurality of longitudinal fastening bars and cooperatingbar-to-ground fastening means having upper, downwardly facing,transversely directed, barnengaging contact shoulder means and havingsubstantially vertically, downwardly directed ground-penetrating stakemeans, with said plurality of bar means being adapted to be placed overdifferent parts of said fasten-down edge portions of said protectivecover means which are superimposed upon corresponding underlying groundsurface portions and with said bar-engaging contact shoulder beingforced downwardly into firm retaining contact with each of said barmeans by forcing the downwardly directed stake means into an adjacentportion of such a ground surface.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said secondattachment means takes the form of an attachment bracket member carriedby a corresponding portion of said edge fastening means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said protective cover meansis provided with a plurality of reinforcing and strengthening strapseffectively joined thereto at a plurality of spaced locations and in apredetermined pattern and with certain of said reinforcing strapscrossing each other at predetermined, multiple, crossover locations atpredetermined angles, each of said first attachment means comprising apair of crossed, reinforcing strap loops formed of said reinforcingstraps at said cross-over locations, each of said second attachmentmeans comprising an attachment bracket member carried by a correspondingportion of said edge fastening means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said protective cover meansis provided with a plurality of reinforcing and strengthening strapseffectively joined thereto at a plurality of spaced locations and in apredetermined, rectangularly-arranged, grid-like pattern and withcertain of said reinforcing straps crossing each other at predetermined,multiple, cross-over locations at predetermined, substantiallyperpendicular angles, each of said first attachment means comprising apair of crossed, reinforcing strap loops formed of said reinforcingstraps at said cross-over locations, each of vsaid second attachmentmeans comprising an attachment bracket member carried by a correspondingportion of a corresponding bar-to-ground fastening means of said edgefastening means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said longitudinalfastening bars cross-sectionally is of substantially rectangular shapehaving four sides provided with four corresponding longitudinal groovemeans for the reception therein of the corresponding transverselydirected contact shoulder of one or more of said bar-to-ground fasteningmeans.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said longitudinalbars is provided at predetermined locations with transversely directedstorage-mounting apertures for conveniently storing a plurality of sameon correspondingly spaced storage bars.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first connection meanscomprises an end-positioned loop portion of each of said auxiliaryfastening straps having controllably connectible fastening hook meanscarried at locations spaced apart by said end-positioned ioop portion.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said protective cover meanscomprises a plurality of panel portions, each provided with controllablyengageable mating edge junction means for firmly fastening togetheradjacent edge portions of an assembly of such panel portions whereby totogether form a complete composite protective cover means of a desiredsize and shape suitable for substantially completely enclosing,enveloping, and protecting any of various differentsized buildingswithin a predetermined range of sizes and shapes.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said edge junction meanscomprises mating sets of first and second junction elements of twodifferent types carried along corresponding joinable edges of said panelportions which are to be joined together to form said desired completecomposite protective cover means of a desired size and shape.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, including multiple edge junctionbridging and reinforcing means carried by opposed parts of said joinedpanel portions in a manner perpendicular to an intervening part of saidedge junction means and fastenable with respectto each other ineffective overriding bridging edge-juncdon-strengthening relationshipwhereby to substantially remove excessive stress from said edge junctionmeans.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said protective cover meanscomprises a plurality of substantially rectangular panel portions, eachprovided with controllably engageable mating edge junction means forfirmly fastening together adjacent edge portions of an assembly of suchpanel portions whereby to together form a complete composite protectivecover means of a desired size and shape suitable for substantiallycompletely enclosing, enveloping, and protecting any of variousdifferent-sized buildings within a predetermined range of sizes andshapes; and including multiple edge junction bridging and reinforcingmeans 'carried by opposed aligned end portions of said reinforcing strapmeans of adjacent ones of said panel portions fastened together by saidedge junction means and fastenable with respect to each other ineffective overriding bridging edge-junction-strengthening relationshipwhereby to substantially remove excessive stress from said edge junctionmeans.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said edge junctionbridging and reinforcing means comprises controllably engageable anddisengageable bridging hook means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including edge junction coding andidentification means carried by said panel portions in identifyingassociation with said corresponding mating junction element sets forquick identification and corresponding proper placement in adjacentrelationship of such junction element sets when initially assemblingsaid panel portions to form said complete protective cover means over abuilding for protecting same from a rapidly approaching highvelocityfire storm.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, including panel coding andidentification means carried by each panel portion and corresponding toits size and shape whereby to provide quick identification of eachparticular type, size, and shape of panel during the initial assemblyand edge-joining of same in protective relationship over a buildingwhich is to be protected from a rapidly approaching fire storm.

1. Fire protection apparatus for a building, comprising: flexible,thin-sheet, protective cover means of fire-retardant material havingfasten-down edge portions and intervening area-covering,building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placed over and inenclosing relationship with respect to a building which is to beprotected from a high-velocity fire, with said area-covering,building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorlycovering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such abuilding from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burningembers which may come into contact therewith from an approachinghigh-velocity fire, and with said fasten-down edge portions beingeffectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means andbeing adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same withrespect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such abuilding, said panel portions of said protective cover means beingprovided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edgefastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachmentmeans; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having firstconnection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to anycorresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment meansprovided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of saidprotective cover means and having second connection means of acontrollably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connectionmeans cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of saidmultiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones ofsaid edge fastening means.
 1. Fire protection apparatus for a building,comprising: flexible, thin-sheet, protective cover means offire-retardant material having fasten-down edge portions and interveningareacovering, building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placedover and in enclosing relationship with respect to a building which isto be protected from a high-velocity fire, with said area-covering,building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorlycovering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such abuilding from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burningembers which may come into contact therewith from an approachinghigh-velocity fire, and with said fasten-down edge portions beingeffectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means andbeing adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same withrespect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such abuilding, said panel portions of said protective cover means beingprovided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edgefastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachmentmeans; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having firstconnection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to anycorresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment meansprovided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of saidprotective cover means and having second connection means of acontrollably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connectionmeans cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of saidmultiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones ofsaid edge fastening means.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid edge fastening means comprises a plurality of longitudinalfastening bars and cooperating bar-to-ground fastening means havingupper, downwardly facing, transversely directed, bar-engaging contactshoulder means and having substantially vertically, downwardly directedground-penetrating stake means, with said plurality of bar means beingadapted to be placed over different parts of said fasten-down edgeportions of said protective cover means which are superimposed uponcorresponding underlying ground surface portions and with saidbar-engaging contact shoulder being forced downwardly into firmretaining contact with each of said bar means by forcing the downwardlydirected stake means into an adjacent portion of such a ground surface.3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said secondattachment means takes the form of an attachment bracket member carriedby a corresponding portion of said edge fastening means.
 4. Apparatus asdefined in claim 2, wherein said protective cover means is provided witha plurality of reinforcing and strengthening straps effectively joinedthereto at a plurality of spaced locations and in a predeterminedpattern and with certain of said reinforcing straps crossing each otherat predetermined, multiple, cross-over locations at predeterminedangles, each of said first attachment means comprising a pair ofcrossed, reinforcing strap loops formed of said reinforcing straps atsaid cross-over locations, each of said second attachment meanscomprising an attachment bracket member carried by a correspondingportion of said edge fastening means.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim2, wherein said protective cover means is provided with a plurality ofreinforcing and strengthening straps effectively joined thereto at aplurality of spaced locations and in a predetermined,rectangularly-arranged, grid-like pattern and with certain of saidreinforcing straps crossing each other at predetermined, multiple,cross-over locations at predetermined, substantially perpendicularangles, each of said first attachment means comprising a pair ofcrossed, reinforcing strap loops formed of said reinforcing straps atsaid cross-over locations, each of said second attachment meanscomprising an attachment bracket member carried by a correspondingportion of a corresponding bar-to-ground fastening means of said edgefastening means.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each ofsaid longitudinal fastening bars cross-sectionally is of substantiallyrectangular shape having four sides provided with four correspondinglongitudinal groove means for the reception therein of the correspondingtransversely directed contact shoulder of one or more of saidbar-to-ground fastening means.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2,wherein each of said longitudinal bars is provided at predeterminedlocations with transversely directed storage-mounting apertures forconveniently storing a plurality of same on correspondingly spacedstorage bars.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said firstconnection means comprises an end-positioned loop portion of each ofsaid auxiliary fastening straps having controllably connectiblefastening hook means carried at locations spaced apart by saidend-positioned loop portion.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid protective cover means comprises a plurality of panel portions,each provided with controllably engageable mating edge junction meansfor firmly fastening together adjacent edge portions of an assembly ofsuch panel portions whereby to together form a complete compositeprotective cover means of a desired size and shape suitable forsubstantially completely enclosing, enveloping, and protecting any ofvarious different-sized buildings within a predetermined range of sizesand shapes.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said edgejunction means comprises mating sets of first and second junctionelements of two different types carried along corresponding joinableedges of said panel portions which are to be joined together to formsaid desired complete composite protective cover means of a desired sizeand shape.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, including multiple edgejunction bridging and reinforcing means carried by opposed parts of saidjoined panel portions in a manner perpendicular to an intervening partof said edge junction means and fastenable with respect to each other ineffective overriding bridging edge-junction-strengthening relationshipwhereby to substantially remove excessive stress from said edge junctionmeans.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said protectivecover means comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular panelportions, each provided with controllably engageable mating edgejunction means for firmly fastening together adjacent edge portions ofan assembly of such panel portions whereby to together form a completecomposite protective cover means of a desired size and shape suitablefor substantially completely enclosing, enveloping, and protecting anyof various different-sized buildings within a predetermined range ofsizes and shapes; and including multiple edge junction bridging andreinforcing means carried by opposed aligned end portions of saidreinforcing strap means of adjacent ones of said panel portions fastenedtogether by said edge junction means and fastenable with respect to eachother in effective overriding bridging edge-junction-strengtheningrelationship whereby to substantially remove excessive stress from saidedge junction means.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein saidedge junctIon bridging and reinforcing means comprises controllablyengageable and disengageable bridging hook means.
 14. Apparatus asdefined in claim 10, including edge junction coding and identificationmeans carried by said panel portions in identifying association withsaid corresponding mating junction element sets for quick identificationand corresponding proper placement in adjacent relationship of suchjunction element sets when initially assembling said panel portions toform said complete protective cover means over a building for protectingsame from a rapidly approaching high-velocity fire storm.
 15. Apparatusas defined in claim 9, including panel coding and identification meanscarried by each panel portion and corresponding to its size and shapewhereby to provide quick identification of each particular type, size,and shape of panel during the initial assembly and edge-joining of samein protective relationship over a building which is to be protected froma rapidly approaching fire storm.